Cotton-stalk cutter



(No Model.)

M. D. ONBAL.

COTTON STALK CUTTER.

No. 379,596. Patented Mar. 20, 1888.

5440mm 8 Wu rmajuae 0116a Erica.

MARMA DUKE ONEAL, OF ALEDO, TEXAS.

COTTON-STALK CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379.596, dated March 20. 1888.

(No model.)

To cZZ whom it 12mg concern:

Be it known that I, llIARMA DUKE ONEAL, a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at Aledo, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Stalk Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in cotton-stalk cutters; and it consists in the pe culiarconstruction and arrangementof devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stalk-cutter embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the bending-arm.

A represents a beam of suitable length, breadth, and thickness, which is placed on edge, as shown, and to its lower side is secured a horizontal sole, B, by means of vertical bolts 0. The edges of the sole project laterally beyond the sides of the beam A, and thereby form flanges D, as shown. One of the said flanges is much broader than the other, and on the upper side of the said broadened flange, at the front end thereof, is secured a block, E,which is hollowed out at its rear end to form a toolbox, F, which is provided with a cover, G. The front end of the beam is rounded, as shown, and the edges of the sole, at the front end of the same, are beveled or cut away diagonail y to a point.

H represents a steel or iron strap which is secured to the edges of the sole, andis thereby adapted to prevent the same from wearing away. On the under side of the front end of the sole is secured a plate, I, which is also made of steel or iron, and has its front end curved upward slightly, as shown. The rear end of the broadened edge of the sole is cut away, as shown at K.

L represents a colter which has its upper end secured to the cut-away side of the sole at a suitable distance from the rear end thereof by means of apivotal bolt, M, the said colter inclined rearwardl y, as shown, and the inclination of the colter is regulated at will by means of a stop-screw, N,which is adapted to be secured in either of a series of openings, 0, in the cut-away edge of the sole.

P represents a cutting-blade which is slightly curved throughout its length, and has its inner end secured in a recess, R, in the bottom of the sole, near the front end thereof. The said blade is arranged in an oblique direction, projects beyond the broadened edge of the sole, and inclines rearwardly at an angle of about forty-five degrees.

S represents a bending-arm, which is of substantially the same shape as the blade P, and has its inner end secured in a recess in.the upper side of the block E, said arm being arranged atasuitable distancebeyond andin advance of the cuttingblade P, and substantially parallel therewith.

T represents a vertical standard, which is secured to the rear end of the beam and projects upwardly therefrom, and U represents a pair of handles which are similar to plowhandles, are secured to the upper end of the standard, and have their front ends secured to the beam A, as shown.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

A team is hitched to the machine by means of a clevis at the front end of the beam, and the operator grasps the handles and directs the machine in a line parallel with a row of cotton-stalks and in proximity thereto. As the machine moves along, the colter cuts into the earth to a depth of several inches,and thereby steadies the machine and prevents it from moving laterally, and when the arm S engages each cotton-stalk in succession it bends the same so as to present the stalk to the edge of the cutting-blade at an oblique angle, and the cutting-blade severs the stalk very effectually at a point on the level of the ground. Vhen a stump, stone, or other obstruction is encountered, the operatorinclines the machine to one side, so as to raise the cutting-blade from the ground and cause the same to clear the obstruction. A stalk-cutter thus constructed is extremely cheap and simple, is very strong and durable, and is well adapted for cutting the stalks of cotton, corn, or other plants.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A stalk-cutter comprising the frame or body having the cutting-blade projecting laterally therefrom, and the arm S, also projecting laterally from the frame or body and arranged at a distance above and in front of the cutting-blade, substantially as described.

2. The stall cutter having the frame or body adapted to be dragged on the ground, and pro- 5 vided near its front end with the laterally-projecting cutting-blade and the arm S, arranged above and in front of the blade and the colter attached near the rear end of the frame or body and adapted to cut into thesoil, for the IO purpose set forth, substantially as described.

3. lhe stalk-cutter comprising the beam A,

the sole secured to the under side of the beam and projecting laterally from both sides thereof, the block E on the upper side of the sole,

I 5 at the front end thereof, the cutting-bladehavownI have hereto affixed my signature in pres ence of two Witnesses.

MARMA DUKE ONEAL.

Witnesses:

A. J. H001), Jr., LOUIS BER'roLortrL' 

